A stinking mess

To the editor,

People of the Flathead, there is a bad health hazard at a residence on Tetrault Road, Kalispell, and it must be cleaned up and shut down as soon as possible.

It is a malfunctioning sewage treatment system, which is illegal to operate. The Flathead County Sanitarian answered a complaint on April 23 and found the system failing to work correctly.

Raw sewage was surfacing around a plastic trash can lid on top of a septic tank. The owner said he wouldn't fix it or shut it down, so the Flathead Sanitarian turned it over to the Flathead County Attorney and the Justice of the Peace.

They all know of this illegal operation, yet they allow it to operate. I hate to go to my garage next door because the smell is really bad and makes me sick.

Why is this health hazard allowed to operate? Why won't the place be shut down? I want to use my garage without holding my nose. I've seen people park on or near the septic tank and get out of their cars and walk through the raw sewage and into the home. Boy, what a health hazard waiting to happen.

This place must be shut down. What is wrong with the county attorney, letting this health hazard operate illegally for so long? I want to use my garage again without the smell and the health hazard near by. This illegal operation must be stopped.

Patrick C. Smith

Columbia Falls